AB537: Bill Text

LRB-3757/1

TKK:jld:md

2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE

2009 Assembly BILL 537

October 29, 2009 - Introduced by Representatives Pope-Roberts, Dexter, Sinicki and Hixson. Referred to Committee on Education.

AB537,1,3 An Act to repeal 115.395 (1); to renumber 115.395 (title); to renumber and amend 115.395 (2), 115.395 (3) and 115.395 (4); and to amend 20.255 (2) (df) of the statutes; relating to: grants for improving academic achievement.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the school board of the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) may apply to the Department of Administration (DOA) for an annual grant to be used by MPS to improve pupil academic achievement. MPS must include with the application a plan describing the initiatives for which the grant moneys will be used. If DOA approves the plan, it must notify the Department of Public Instruction (DPI), and the state superintendent must pay MPS the amount specified in the notice from DOA.

This bill changes the department to which MPS may apply for a grant from DOA to DPI.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB537, s. 1 Section 1. 20.255 (2) (df) of the statutes is amended to read:

AB537,2,3 20.255 (2) (df) Grants for improving pupil academic achievement. The amounts in the schedule for grants to the school district operating under ch. 119 to improve pupil academic achievement under s. 115.395 119.245.

AB537, s. 2 Section 2. 115.395 (title) of the statutes is renumbered 119.245 (title).

AB537, s. 3 Section 3. 115.395 (1) of the statutes is repealed.

AB537, s. 4 Section 4. 115.395 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 119.245 (2) and amended to read:

AB537,2,19 119.245 (2) Beginning in the 2008-09 school year, the board may apply to the department of administration for an annual grant of up to $10,000,000 to implement initiatives to improve pupil academic achievement in all grades, such as employing licensed teachers to tutor pupils who are struggling academically, or employing persons to coordinate the district's instructional programs and provide ongoing professional development for teachers. The board shall submit with its application a plan for the department of administration's department's approval describing the initiatives for which the grant will be used, describing the research showing that the initiatives have a positive effect on pupil academic achievement, and including criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of the initiatives, such as high school graduation rates or the results of the statewide pupil assessments under ch. s. 118.30.

AB537, s. 5 Section 5. 115.395 (3) of the statutes is renumbered 119.245 (3) and amended to read:

AB537,2,25 119.245 (3) The department of administration may approve the plan submitted under sub. (2) in whole or in part. If the department approves a plan in part, the board may submit an additional plan for the same school year and the department may award the board all or part of the balance of grant funds.

AB537, s. 6 Section 6. 115.395 (4) of the statutes is renumbered 119.245 (4) and amended to read:

AB537,3,6 119.245 (4) Upon receipt of a notice from the The department of administration that a plan has been approved under sub. (3), the state superintendent shall pay award grants to the board, from the appropriation under s. 20.255 (2) (df), the amount specified by the department of administration.

AB537,3,7 (End)